Journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that although Tottenham Hotspur wouldn't be signing Piero Hincapie on deadline day, they will try and sign him in the summer.

What’s the word?

Indeed, after plenty of twists and turns, Pedro Porro became a Tottenham player with the club finally agreeing terms with Sporting Lisbon over a permanent transfer.

Despite all that drama, they were also linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Hincapie, who has been hailed as a "defensive sensation" by Ryan Taylor, which supposedly could've been completed on deadline day.

However, while talking on his YouTube channel before the transfer deadline, Romano was able to clarify that any move for the defender would be likely to happen at the end of the season.

The journalist explained: “I saw some rumours of Piero Hincapie, the Ecuadorian centre-back of Bayer Leverkusen. A very good player, but from what I understand, Tottenham want to sign him next summer.

"It is not something for the final hours, he's not leaving Bayer Leverkusen also because the Bundesliga market is already closed.”

Patience required

While some Spurs fans may well have been disappointed to hear that any move for Hincapie will have to wait until the summer, the club at least have depth in that position for the time being.

Indeed, Antonio Conte has the likes of Cristian Romero, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Clement Lenglet, Japhet Tanganga and Ben Davies who can all play at centre-back in the second half of the season.

Long term, however, the club could be getting a pretty exciting talent on their hands. After all, he impressed with Ecuador at the World Cup, and was labelled as "superb" on his debut in the competition as he helped his team beat Qatar and pick up a clean sheet.

For now, though, he'll have to enjoy his time in Germany – where he has made 16 Bundesliga appearances this term – with any Spurs fans having to be patient over a possible future move.